Georgie Lee - Engagement of Convenience

A bolt of lightning split the distant horizon and the image of Miss Howard atop that beast of a horse commanding him like a common seaman seared his mind. Tight desire coursed through him at the memory of her tongue tracing the line of her lips and the curious need illuminating her face. Her free spirit and courage reminded him of Caribbean ladies, bringing a smile to his face at the memory of warm afternoons and even warmer nights in the islands. Those days seemed like a lifetime ago yet today, in Miss Howard’s presence, their carefree ease sparked deep inside him for the first time in over a year.

The feeling made him uneasy. He’d experienced something like it once before, allowing it to guide him, and he’d come to regret it.

He downed the last of the brandy, forcing back the encroaching sadness. He wasn’t ready for another life-altering change and certainly had no intention of courting Miss Howard.

As James examined the cut-crystal glass, an idea suddenly came to him, so simple yet brilliantly amusing. George was determined to meddle with yet another scheme. Why not catch him up in one of James’s devising, give him a friendly taste of his own medicine?

‘Perhaps you’re right. I should give more thought to the idea of marriage,’ James announced, strolling back to the table and scrutinising the position of the balls.

George’s smile broadened. ‘Indeed.’

‘A man needs a woman to make a comfortable home for him.’

‘One with a sense of how to run things properly.’

‘The perfect mistress to complement him.’

‘Exactly.’

‘A woman like Miss Taylor.’

‘Annette?’ George sputtered. ‘You must be joking.’

‘I’m quite serious. She’s well brought up and pleasing to view.’ James leaned over the table to take a shot, pretending not to notice George’s stunned expression.

‘But there’s nothing there, no substance.’

‘Good. It makes life less complicated.’ James hit the cue ball, sending it bouncing off the side to hit the red ball. Straightening up, he worked to contain his laughter as George stared slack jawed at him.

‘Annette?’

James smiled to himself, realising just how much fun this harmless revenge would be.

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